Horror fans are looking forward to Blumhouse’s creepy doll film M3GAN, which will be released in January 2023. Gemma creates an android toy who she hopes will be a good friend for children who are lonely. From the recently released trailer, it’s clear that this turns into a total disaster.
Robots are a fascinating topic for the horror genre. Whether they are an experiment gone wrong or a friendly object who becomes a killing machine, robots are unique villains who are sometimes more entertaining to watch than traditional slasher villains. Redditors have recommended some favorite films where technology becomes horrifying.
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The Demon Seed (1977)
Stream on Roku and Tubi
Adapted from the book written by Dean Koontz, The Demon Seed features a robot named Proteus which can help people who have leukemia. Redditor SteelBelle posted that the movie makes them “slightly terrified of my Alexa smart plugs.” The fan described the story as “Alan’s obsession with technology” complicating his marriage to Susan Harris. What happens to Susan is absolutely horrifying.
The title describes the robot’s desire to get Susan pregnant, and the movie is a battle between Susan and Proteus as Susan desperately tries to escape and regain control over her life. The Demon Seed is a great ’70s horror movie that asks questions about whether technology can feel human-like.
Virus (1999)
Rent on AppleTV
Virus is adapted from Chuck Pfarrer’s novel and tells the story of a crew on a tugboat whose captain wants them to join a larger ship that they have just discovered. Nadia Vinogradiya, a woman who is the only one alive from the ship, acts strangely, and crew member Kit Foster knows that this is a terrible idea.
Redditor NineAndNinetyHours suggested Virus and wrote, “It’s NOT a good movie, but it’s full of GORGEOUS practical effects and it’s entertaining as all get out.” The ship has cyborgs, which are fun to watch, and the film shows how chaotic it can be when humans interact with something that they don’t understand.
Deadly Friend (1986)
Rent on AppleTV
Redditor nomoremammoths recommended Deadly Friend and wrote that the main character is “Not strictly a robot, but she was brought back by implanting a robotic microchip in her brain.” Samantha Pringle, the beautiful and popular girl who Paul Conway loves, dies, and Paul turns her into a robot so he can keep her alive.
Deadly Friend proves that the best laid plans don’t work out as Samantha becomes evil and Paul has no idea what he has done. While the ’80s are praised as a great decade for slasher films, this movie directed by Wes Craven deserves to be considered one of the most fun teen movies from this time. Before Samantha becomes a robot, she and Paul are relatable characters and the chaotic storyline is entertaining.
Ex Machina (2015)
Stream on HBO Max
Ex Machina is one of Alicia Vikander’s best movies and she gives a stunning performance as a robot named Ava. One Redditor said of the film, “Really interesting take on robots in the future and it actually is pretty scary when you think about it in the vein of real life automation/robots that are unrecognizable from humans.”
Caleb Smith is given an assignment to spend time with Ava and figure out if she is really as lifelike and close to human as her inventor has hoped. The movie takes a different path as there is romance, action, and an ending that suggests that Caleb didn’t know Ava quite as well as he thought that he did.
Death Machine (1994)
Stream on Roku or rent on AppleTV
In Death Machine, a corporation named Chaank Armaments has created weapons out of robotic technology, but when something goes wrong with a robot and it kills people, damage control is in order. Redditor PhibbyRizo said of the film, “Came here to say Death Machine. It’s not a great movie but it is fun.”
The invention in question, Hard Man, has a mind of its own, and Death Machine asks important questions about the role of corporations and business in society. It’s sad seeing people defend Hard Man and want it to suceed at all costs, even knowing the terrible tragedies that have resulted.
Screamers (1996)
Stream on Prime Video
Screamers is adapted from the short story “Second Variety” by Phillip K. Dick and the science-fiction movie is set on Sirius 6B in 2078. Redditor Either-Shake4388 said “Screamers was an amazing film. It’s a shame that they never tried to make a franchise out of it.” Where there is a sequel called Screamers: The Hunting from 2009, it doesn’t feel as campy and fun as the original.
When the characters try to win a war that has broken out for a long time, they find Autonomous Mobile Swords also called Screamers, which are deadly androids. The appearance of the robots in this film are particularly impressive as they really do look like something to fear.
Chopping Mall (1986)
Stream on AMC+ and Shudder
Redditor sigersen posted in a thread about horror movies focusing on robots and said, “My favorite will always be Chopping Mall. It’s so much fun.” The setting is a fun mall called Park Plaza Mall with an impressive computer system. Things go awry when lightning lets loose the three robots inside the building’s system.
Chopping Mall is definitely a horror movie that feels like the ’80s thanks to the love that the characters have for the mall and the fashion and hair. It’s compelling to watch a slasher that has robots instead of a killer in a costume and mask, and the characters put up an entertaining fight. It’s a unique take on robots as they are supposed to keep everyone in the mall safe but the security system is actually evil.
Upgrade (2018)
Rent on AppleTV
Redditor Dao_Jarlen suggested “Upgrade” as a horror film with robots. The main character, Grey Trace, is in a tragic car accident and after a personal loss, he’s having a terrible time. He is given a STEM chip so he isn’t paralyzed anymore.
As is always the case with a decision that feels exciting and helpful in a scary movie, the chip is more sinister than Grey realizes and totally takes over his life. Watching Grey try to regain control of himself and learn what’s going on is fascinating as the movie asks just how much humans can rely on technology and if there are any dangers there.
I Am Mother (2019)
Stream on Netflix
Redditor HermineLovesMilo recommended “I Am Mother,” which is one of the best original horror movies on Netflix. A robot named Mother lives in a bunker after the world has ended, and she is looking after a human girl who she calls Daughter. One day, Daughter has contact with someone outside, which changes everything.
It’s an alarming and disturbing situation to imagine being in, and Daughter becomes a kind of final girl, with ambitions to work out the truth and see if it’s possible to say goodbye to this strange and intense existence and live in the real world. Daughter realizes that Mother thinks that she is helping as she wants to build a new world with better people, but as is often the case, this is actually sinister.
Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (1982)
Stream on Peacock
While it’s often talked about as one of the least popular entries in the franchise, Redditor Kaijurodeo said “Halloween III” works as a story about robots. This movie is definitely different from the others as it isn’t about the long-term battle that Laurie Strode and Michael Myers have.
Conal Cochran is in charge of Silver Shamrock Novelties, a factory that creates Halloween masks, and he also makes androids. These masks end up being incredibly dangerous as they will murder the people who wear them. It’s a departure, but fans of science-fiction can appreciate how odd and unique this story is.